West Ham United U18s have extended their winning run to five matches with a fine 1-0 victory at Fulham.
The Hammers headed to Motspur Park on Saturday in high spirits, having defeated Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth in the FA Premier Academy League before dismissing Aldershot Town 5-0 in the FA Youth Cup third round in mid-week.
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE was naturally delighted to record another success, with captain Sergio Sanchez scoring the all-important goal with 20 minutes remaining.
Carr made six changes to the side that defeated Aldershot, resting the likes of goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet, full-back Callum Driver, centre-back Paco Craig and midfielders George Moncur and Sebastian Lletget. However, Youth Cup goal-scorers Dylan Tombides and Daniel Purdy were included in the starting XI.
"Sergio scored the winner with a header from a free-kick taken by Robert Hall," Carr told whufc.com
"We played very well and dominated the game for long periods and could easily have won by a more convincing margin.
"Fulham beat us 4-0 at home earlier this season. That result shows how well we performed in this match, as much as anything else.
"Our confidence continues to grow. After five defeats on the trot, we have now recorded five victories in a row going into our final league match before Christmas, when we welcome Charlton Athletic to Little Heath on Saturday."
Sanchez's goal rounded off a fine year for the young Spaniard, who has recently captained the side and signed his first professional contract with the club.
West Ham United U18s: Larkins, Modelski, Potts, Sanchez, Hunt, Wearen (Powell), Hurley, Vose, Purdy (Turgott), Hall, Tombides